Happy 2nd Birthday, ACA!

Last Friday, March 23rd, marked the two year anniversary of when President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law.

And the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health said “Happy 2nd Birthday, ACA!” and celebrated the anniversary of this historic law, which stands poised to increase access to quality, affordable health care for millions of Latin@s.

She highlights the long-standing challenges faced by Latin@s in accessing affordable and quality health care:

Today, people of color account for one third of the population but make up one half of the uninsured. Latinos go uninsured at rates higher than any other racial or ethnic group. This lack of access to basic care leaves our communities unfairly saddled with much higher rates of chronic and preventable diseases than their fellow Americans.

Women of color face a double challenge, since we also encounter the discrimination that for years has led to disproportionately high insurance premiums for women. Conditions like pregnancy and even rape being categorized as pre-existing conditions, and arbitrary insurance company rules that have denied women affordable care and coverage.

She discusses how specific provisions of the law have already improved access to quality and affordable care for many Latinas and their families, for instance, by expanding health insurance coverage to 2.5 million young adults — including 736,000 Latinos — by allowing young adults under 26 to stay on their parent’s plans. She argues that as the ACA is further implemented, numerous other provisions, such as the Medicaid expansion, grants to Community Health Centers and no co-pays for contraception, will empower our communities to “take better care of ourselves, and each other.”

Additionally, NLIRH has issued a press release to commemorate the second anniversary of the ACA’s signing into law.

From the press statement:

“We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to quality, affordable healthcare, including contraception. The passage of the Affordable Care Act brings millions of Latinas closer to that vision and ensures that they can make the healthiest decisions for themselves and their families,” said Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute. “For Latinas, who already face a disproportionate number of barriers to care, the ACA expands access to absolutely critical services, like life-saving screenings for cancer and domestic violence, and expands support for pregnant women and new mothers.”

And finally, NLIRH has joined 180 national, local and state advocates for equity and civil rights in health in celebrating the historic health care law, and particularly the steps it takes to dramatically reduce health disparities faced by Latinos and other communities of color.